The Council of State has ordered the state to pay a record 20 million euro fine for not acting quickly enough against air pollution that kills tens of thousands of people in France every year. Monday.
The fine covers the period from July 12, 2021 to July 12, 2022, i.e. EUR 10 million per semester. The state was already ordered in August 2021 to pay 10 million euros to sufficiently strengthen its anti-pollution system, a decision that then applied to the first half of 2021.
“Persistence to exceed threshold limits”
“Taking into account both the persistence of exceeding the thresholds and the improvements observed after the last decision of the State Council on August 4, 2021, the amount of the semi-annual penalty is neither increased nor decreased. It remains fixed at EUR 10 million for the half-year delay between July 12, 2021 and July 12, 2022, as provided for in the July 10, 2020 decision, bringing the total amount to EUR 20 million. EUR for the two semesters in question“, the State Council notes.
“Although improvements have been seen over time, nitrogen dioxide pollution limits, which must be met since 2010, continue to be exceeded in several regions of France, particularly in the urban areas of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Until now, the measures taken by the state do not guarantee the improvement of air quality in such a way that the limit limits of pollution are maintained in the shortest possible time.– adds the highest administrative court of France.
Pollution, particularly related to vehicular traffic, is a major public health problem. “Mortality related to ambient air pollution remains a significant risk in France, with 40,000 deaths attributed to fine particles each year.“, – emphasized the public health of France last year. The funds will mainly be directed to state bodies fighting air pollution, and 50,000 euros will be donated to the “Friends of the Earth” association, which initially captured the State Council in 2017.It is a decision that seems reasonable to us.said Louis Cofflard, attorney for Friends of the Earth.
Source: Le Figaro
